The brass band was formed by Dear Saliov (1960), who ranks among the finest Macedonian Roma trumpet players and also among the undiscovered musical gems of that region.
The brass band was formed by Dear Saliov (1960), who ranks among the finest Macedonian Roma trumpet players and also among the undiscovered musical gems of that region. The town of Vinica is just some 10 km away from the town Koèani. The Saliov family of Vinica has been the family of excellent trumpet players for generations. The trumpet was played by Dears father, it is played by Dears brothers and the tradition will definitely continue with his children.
Dears reputation could be compared to the one of the Roma clarinet legend Medo Èun. Musicians respect him and appraise his style of playing, but he is generally unknown outside the wider Roma wedding circles. If his musicial talents are undisputed, his ways to turn them into hard Roma wedding cash are far from efficient, especially when compared to the ones of local Roma brass or reed Kings. Dear is too much of a modest and introvert person. Such is his music, not the loud, fast showing off of technical prowess, but soft blues and soul of the southern Balkans, an amalgam of local Macedonian, southern Serbian and Egeyan styles and moods. If Balkans abound in hard & heavy soloists well-paid and highly admired virtuosos, it is much harder to dig out the musicains who express their true emotions when they play.
Kristali, Dears current line-up, which has compiled a number of awards at Macedonian brass band competitions, introduces an interesting selection of young musicians from the local region, from Vinica and the neighbouring towns of Koèani, Pehèevo and Delèevo, many of whom have never left their native country for the glittering lights of the big West yet.
Kristali were also among the final selection of the acts to perform at the (cancelled) Skopje ethno festival 2006.
Parties, weddings, anything. The Sfinks festival, Antwerp, Belgium, between 26 and 30 July 2007
Local brass stuff....
